Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s sister, Dr. Mona Jain, recently announced her candidacy for Washington’s 7th Congressional District. If elected, Jain would be the first family of South Asian descent to serve in Congress together.
Dr. Jain, an internist and former health care executive, is running to fill the seat currently held by U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, who is retiring in 2016. She is focusing her campaign on issues such as improving access to health care, increasing access to higher education, reforming the criminal justice system, and addressing rising income inequality.
Rep. Jayapal is supporting her sister’s run for Congress, tweeting her encouragement and using the hashtag #Twowomenmakehistory.
If elected, Jain and Jayapal could demonstrate the power of female representation in politics and serve as role models to young South Asian women. The opportunity to have two South Asian women in Congress together has the potential to set a new standard for what’s possible and give voice to a community that is often underrepresented in government.
